Device for dispensing loose materials to a number of user points



Jan. 24, 1967 K. W. QUESTER ETAL DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LOOSE MATERIALS TO Filed Oct. 22, 1965 A NUMBER OF USER POINTS 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VE N TO R5 KARL 1M QUES 75 By 9 /7/LMUT ,L/ETE/v DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LOOSE MATERIALS TO Jan. 24, 1967 K. w. QUESTER ETAL I A NUMBER OF USER POINTS 3 Sheets-$heet L- Filed Oct. 22', 1965 l Fig.4

I 2 e l a I?? I' i if Q I b 4a C 7 I l L Y/ A I INVE N TOR5 f g'i Jan. 24, 1967 K w QUESTER ETAL 3,300,098

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LOOSE MATERIALS TO A NUMBER OF USER POINTS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 owar #M United States Patent Q 7 Claims. or. 222-196) This invention relates to a device for dispensing loose material from a continuously moving fleece or mat to a plurality of user points by separating partial streams from the total fleece; and relates more particularly to a device for dispensing and feeding a number of cigarette machines with cut tobacco.

It is known to supply a plurality of cigarette machines with cut tobacco by drawing tobacco from a stock or storage area, forming it into a fleece or mat, conveying the tobacco mat to a number of feeder points, and then to the individual machines. For this purpose, a horizontally-travelling fleece cut of tobacco is formed and the cut tobacco is drawn therefrom. This fleece is formed in such a manner that the tobacco falls by gravity onto the point of a conical guide coaxial with a horizontal, rotating feed table. The withdrawal of the tobacco for the individual user points is effected by means of pneumatic conveyors arranged with their suction nozzles above the rotating table. This withdrawal operation is restricted to a comparatively narrow range of layer depths and this range must be accurately maintained. If the fleece is at too great a distance from the fixed suction nozzles the pneumatic conveying of the material is impaired, and same applies if the suction nozzles are inserted or embedded in the fleece, thereby impeding the rotation of the fleece or layer of tobacco. It is consequently necessary to control the tobacco feed by means of a device probing the depth of the fleece. Moreover, the suction nozzles are required to be of special design in order to function satisfactorily.

In another conventional device of this nature in which a rotating table is used for the formation of the fleece, the rotating table is surrounded by a fixed or stationary rim from which are directed ducts for withdrawing or dispensing the material. The material lying on the rotating table is propelled into the ducts by centrifugal force. In this case it is also necessary to control the depth of fleece. Moreover, the dispensing ducts are always filled, whether or not a dispensing operation is taking place. This does not insure that the user points are always kept supplied with fresh material.

It has been found in these known arrangements that a change in the structure of the material as a result of its handling is unavoidable, and/ or an effective feed can only be insured by strictly limiting the depth or thickness of the fleece. Furthermore, other necessary arrangements and the number of elements, as Well as the control gear, are somewhat bulky and expensive.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

The present invention is directed to a device for dispensing loose material from a continuously moving fleece or mat to a plurality of user points in which partial streams are diverted from a continuously rotating fleece and conducted to the individual user points while the fleece is formed by the action of an upright cone, an apex of the cone being directed to receive the material, the cone being surrounded by a table receiving the material, the table being adapted to oscillate or swing, and the table surface being provided with closable openings.

In this manner a regular feed of the material to the 3,300,098 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 user points is insured, independently of whether all or only some of the user points are simultaneously or successively connected with the feed. At the same time, the limitation of the depth of the material on the table, apart from that imposed by the structural limitations of the arrangement, from which the user points are supplied is eliminated. In addition, due to this arrangement the material held in the installation cannot accumulate at the user points which are temporarily not drawing feed, nor can the stack of feed material remain stationary, whereby changes in the structure and condition of the material may take place. The rotating table is preferably of a conical shape, and an edge or rim of the table is preferably made with an outward and upward slope. This form of table promotes uniform filling or charging with the material. The peripheral region, from which closable feed openings lead, is always kept filled and the openings rapidly become filled to the capacity of their discharge. Moreover, a satisfactory transfer of the material at and to the user point, is assured. The feed cone may be a separate structural element, and can either be fixed or rotatable. Most suitably, the feed cone and the oscillating feed table are united to form a structural unit.

The closing of the feed openings in the table can be effected in different ways as, for example, by flaps arranged in the surface of the table, or in its rim, and be either of the sliding or of the swinging type.

The oscillation or vibration of the feed table for the formation of a circulating fleece of tobacco can be obtained in various Ways. The table can be made to oscillate or swing by an imparted eccentricity of predetermined value or the table can be constructed in the manner of a shaker screen, oscillating peripherally and outwardly.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of specific examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are respective highly diagrammatic side elevation and top plan views of one embodiment of the top dispensing device according to the invention, and graphically illustrate material flow from the fleece to a plurality of user points by unnumbered headed arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a modified embodiment of the invention, and illustrates an independent distributor cone associated with the apparatus.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show a further embodiment of the invention diagrammatically by respective side elevation and top plan views, and illustrate a horizontal table surface and a vertical peripheral view thereof.

FIGURES 6 to 8, 9 to 11, and 12 to 14 are respective front, top and side elevational views and illustrate various examples of closures for the openings in the tables of the devices or apparatuses illustrated in FIGURES 1-5.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, a feed hopper 1 for the material has a distributor cone 2 located underneath and associated with a feed table 3. The surface 4 of the feed table 3 forms a direct continuation of the distributor cone 2. The table is provided with a peripheral rim 5 which tapers outwardly and upwardly. In the table surface 4 and the table rim 5 are closable openings 6, regularly or irregularly positioned, and have under them associated fixed feed cones 7. The feed can be discharged in any suitable Way from the feed table 3, e.g., mechanically through pipes, or by travelling carriages or trucks, or by pneumatic means. The cone 2 and table 3 perform an oscillating swinging motion, e.g. with an eccentricity e, by means of any known kind of drive mechanism. The points of the table and cone designated a, b, c, and in fact every point on the cone 2, table 3 and surface 4 effect small circular motions, as shown by the unnumbered headed arrows directed counterclockwise from each of the points a, b and c. The amplitude 3 of oscillation is 22. The remaining double-headed unnumbered arrows show the direction of flow of the material, along which the material passing through the feed hopper 1 to the cone 2 and table 3 reaches a holding space or trough. 8 on the table 3. The oscillating motion of the table 3 produces a circulating flow of the material which is, as was heretofore noted, preferably cut tobacco. As soon as the openings 6 are uncovered, the material falls into the feeder cones 7 and thus reaches the appropriate user point. When the openings 6 are closed, the material is in the space 8 continues to circulate. The uncovering of a feed opening produces gaps in the material fleece or mat which are immediately refilled automatically as soon as the opening is closed. The material not withdrawn by the individual user points consequently continues to circulate along the periphery of the table and is kept in motion by the oscillation or swinging thereof, being thus immediately available for any user point. The material flow is restricted only by the capacity of the device, as in the case of any other arrangement.

While in the embodiment shown in FIGURES l and 2 the distributor cone 2 and the feed table 3 concentric therewith form a single unit, FIGURE 3 shows an embodiment in which an independent distributor cone 9 is employed. The independent cone 9 is located under the feed hopper 1 and may remain stationary, or may be steadily rotated.

The embodiment as shown in FIGURES 4 and differs from the embodiments hereinbefore described above only in that the table surface 4 is horizontal and the table rim 5 is perfectly vertical. The closable openings 6 are evenly or unevenly spaced over the table surface.

In the embodiment of the invention according to FIG- URES 6 to 8 the openings 6 are made in the sloping rim or wall -5 and are closable by means of flaps 10 which are hinged at 11 to the surface of the table 4. The flaps can be folded outwardly so that the material issues in the direction of the broken arrow 12, The angle of swinging of the flaps can be limited by the holders 13.

In FIGURES 911, a sliding flap 14 is shown for closing the openings 6 in the annular space 8, which flap can be slid underneath the bottom 4a of the feed table. Here also, the material issues in the direction of the broken arrow 12a.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 12 to 14 the openings 6 are closed by a swinging flap 15 which can be swung under the bottom 4a of the table by a pivot 16 to completely free the opening 6.

By feeding the loose material to the table through a device rotating eccentrically with reference to the tip of the cone 2 an uninterrupted distribution of material of varying bulk density in continuously persisting directions is avoided. The oscillating or swinging motion in conjunction with the perferably oblique envelope surface of the cone element delivers the material slidingly along the limiting edge or rim of the table. The openings arranged on the periphery of the table surface or in the aforesaid rim are automatically closable and the feed of material can be controlled by time intervals or fluctuating requirements. At the same time, the closures can be held under control by known means, and their setting employed to regulate the inflow of the feed material.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A device for dispensing loose material comprising an overhead hopper for directing material vertically downwardly, a table beneath said hopper for forming a fleece of rotating material, a cone portion disposed between said table and said hopper, said table having a plurality of closable openings to direct said fleece to a plurality of user points, and said table being eccentrically rotatable whereby the material is forcibly urged into flow paths which terminate in circular path portions whereby upon the opening of said closable openings said material is immediately dispensed to said user points.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said table includes an annular trough which is generally V-shaped in cross-section and a peripheral rim which slopes upwardly and radially outwardly.

3. The device is defined in claim 1 wherein said cone portion is an integral part of said table and is rotatable and oscillatable therewith.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said cone portion is mounted independent of said table and is fixed and non-rotatable.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said closable openings are closed by flaps in a bottom surface of said table.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said cone portion is swingable eccentrically relative to said hopper.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said table is oscillated in motions which are both peripherally and outwardly directed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1958 Haskell et al 222-196 X 7/1966 Wahl 222199 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LOOSE MATERIAL COMPRISING AN OVERHEAD HOPPER FOR DIRECTING MATERIAL VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY, A TABLE BENEATH SAID HOPPER FOR FORMING A FLEECE OF ROTATING MATERIAL, A CONE PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TABLE AND SAID HOPPER, SAID TABLE HAVING A PLURALITY OF CLOSABLE OPENINGS TO DIRECT SAID FLEECE TO A PLURALITY OF USER POINTS, AND SAID TABLE BEING ECCENTRICALLY ROTATABLE WHEREBY THE MATERIAL IS FORCIBLY URGED INTO FLOW PATHS 